Modi flies to Pakistan, goes to Sharif’s house

Lahore, Dec 25 (IANS) In developments that took most people by surprise, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into Lahore on Friday and met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif while returning home from Kabul.

After Sharif and Modi hugged at the Allama Iqbal International Airport as he landed in an Indian Air Force plane, the two took a helicopter to Sharif’s residence at Raiwind, about 40 km from here, officials here said.

The dramatic visit took place after Modi greeted Sharif on his birthday over telephone from Kabul earlier on Friday and expressed a desire to meet the Pakistani leader, Pakistani media said.

Geo TV reported that the visit “was not that surprising” as the Lahore Air Traffic Control had been told about it on Thursday.

But few in India and Pakistan knew about the programme, which came at a time when bilateral relations have shown definite improvement after months of tensions and border clashes.

Sharif and his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were among those who received Modi at the airport with bouquets. Also present were Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian envoy, T.C.A. Raghavan.

After pleasantries and a guard of honour by the Pakistani Air Force for Modi, the two prime ministers boarded a helicopter and reached Sharif’s ancestral residence at Raiwind for what could be a round of talks — or more.

Indian and Pakistani officials did not reveal the likely agenda.

Modi and Sharif had met at the Paris Climate Summit on November 30, laying the foundation for a resumption of the stalled bilateral dialogue.

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who accompanied Modi to Lahore, met his Pakistani counterpart in Bangkok earlier this month, to be followed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad.

The two foreign secretaries are set to meet in January, also in the Pakistani capital.

It is Modi’s first visit to Pakistan and the first trip by an Indian prime minister to the country in 11 years.

Modi’s surprise visit came nearly 19 months after Sharif and other South Asian leaders were in New Delhi for Modi’s oath taking in May 2014.

Hours before he left for Lahore, Modi addressed the Afghan parliament and blasted Islamabad – but without naming the country – for sponsoring terrorism in Afghanistan.

“Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices Afghans make,” Modi told Afghan MPs. Modi reached Kabul early on Friday after a two-day visit to Russia.

In an obvious reference to Pakistan, Modi said there were “some who did not want us to be here”.

“There were those who saw sinister designs in our presence here. There are others who were uneasy at the strength of our partnership. Some even tried to discourage us.”

At the same time, Modi said Pakistan must act like a bridge between South Asia and Afghanistan.

“All of us in the region – India, Pakistan, Iran and others – must unite, in trust and cooperation, behind this common purpose and in recognition of our common destiny.”

Sharif receives Modi in Lahore

Lahore, Dec 25 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed here on Friday evening for an unscheduled meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif who received him warmly.

Sharif presented a bouquet to Modi as he flew into the Allama Iqbal International Airport from Kabul heading a 120-member delegation, Pakistan Television reported.

It is Modi’s first visit to Pakistan, and the first trip by an Indian prime minister to the country in 11 years.

Modi lands in LahoreLahore, Dec 25 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed here on Friday evening on an unscheduled trip from Kabul to New Delhi to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, the media reported.

9 Comments

A country of 1.2 billion people has an amateur as Prime Minister. There is no strategy or planning behind Modi’s foreign policy. India has little to show for Modi’s many trips abroad. In the end foreign policy success is based on substance not an endless series of dramatic gestures.

“A country of 1.2 billion people has an amateur as a Prime Minister,” by Roy.

You have every right to express your feelings and that is your prerogative. However, just one and half years ago, how would you have described Dr. Manmohan Singh (the man with the best education from elite educational institutions one could aspire for), acting at Sonia Gandhi’s command. In fact, he would dance to her tunes, rather than having the guts to tell her to mind her own business and let him do his job. I appreciate the Carmelite College students in Bangalore giving answers to Rahul Gandhi, which he felt were unsavoury. Anyday, they were of much sterner stuff than Dr. Manmohan Singh. Truth is always bitter. Where was Rahul Gandhi then, though now, he has surfaced and makes a lot of noise, especially after that trip to Thailand?

Dr. Manmohan Singh is the worst Prime Minister India has ever had. He had no connect with the people, looking somewhere else when scams were occuring (in fact, he is the Godfather of Scamsters and people involved in irregularities) right under his nose, had no oratory skills at all and a disgrace to the valiant race of Sardars or Sikhs. The Sikhs themselves are saying, “We do not consider him as a Sikh. He has no qualities of our race and he is a blot on us. He was Madamji’s man”. Even today, one only sees Dr. Manmohan Singh, when he is summoned by Sonia Gandhi for some event or gathering, walking behind her like a toddler.

I do agree Narendra Modi has his share of faults, but at least wherever required and whenever he wishes, he asserts and unlike Dr. Manmohan Singh, does not permit anyone to thrust IAS Officers in his office as his Principal Secretary, etc. They all have to be approved and selected by him. After Narendra Modi has come to power, the military are happy, because they have been taken care of and their forces strengthened and firepower enhanced. India has been building up relations with many countries in different countries to build up ties, trades, bases, etc. What is Dr. Manmohan Singh’s achievements, other than warming the Prime Minister’s chair for 10 years and going on foreign tripse? Has he the capacity to atttract even a hobo? Being the senior statesman, did he ever have he guts to tell Sonia and Rahul Gandhi that the Congress Party should be run on democratic lines and not as a family business with the best people occupying the seniormost positions and giving diretions and leadership to the party and other people being either members or MPs?

“A country of 1.2 billion people has an amateur as Prime Minister” writes someone who in all probability voted and prayed for a certified amateur who had to settle for 44 seats!! Talk about having no standards!! smiles…

Original R.Pai – “How mature is your ‘leader’ who still goes to Columbia for relaxation? smiles…”

HE IS NOT SHAMELESS LIKE MODI!
“Snoopgate exposes ‘Modi leela’ | Deccan Chronicle” – “In an affidavit that has come into the possession of Deccan Chronicle, the lady in the controversial tapes is named as former Bangalorean architect Mxxxx Soni (name withheld).”